Tipton County, Indiana - Chapter 10: The Medical Profession, 1914

Chapter 10: The Medical Profession

The doctor of the early day was a much-feared man. His methods were so severe and his remedies so irksome that the average patient hesitated be¬ tween the illness and the doctor's visit. In this, however, the doctor was not at fault. Science had not begun to advance to the. high plane it occupies at present. Blue pills, calomel and one or two other obnoxious drugs were used for every ill; while now the variety of medicines used by the physician are but a small part of the treatment of the sick. Hygiene, nursing, a tendency to let the forces of nature cure, are other methods used almost universally. Expert and wonderful surgery has come to be a common expedient for the relief of suffering; anti-toxins, serums and cultures have their place in medi¬ cal science, things unknown a quarter century ago. The doctor of the future will be the man who prevents disease, rather than attempting to cure.

The pioneer doctor deserves praise and encomium for other things than his treatments and "dosings." He suffered hardships unknown today. Afoot, on horseback, or in his single carriage, the physician breasted all kinds of weather, and did it without the help of good roads and cleared land. Through swamps, over hills and streams, and through densely wooded acres he pushed his way, often miles, to visit the bedside of a sick patient. These are heroisms that must be remembered, and the early doctor must be placed in equal rank with the man who camped on rain-soaked fields and the next day charged into the enemy's fire, and the man who, with his family, entered the barren country and, with only the strength of his arms, carved out a home.

The doctors of Tipton county in the early day had these things to cope with, and there are a few, mighty few, alive today to bear witness to those trying days. It is to be regretted that more stories are not existent concerning these early practitioners and their exploits, but their names will serve to commemorate their lives, and their fortitude, sympathy and strength will stand as an example to be emulated by the doctors of the twentieth century.

especially unfortunate. This area was a slough in the early days, and the roads were winding and obscure, not following section lines as they do now. Some of the roads were corduroy and exceedingly rough. When the doctor used a conveyance it had to be a topless wagon or cart, for the riding on logs would shake a top from a buggy, no matter how securely fastened. A few doctors preferred to walk, among them being Dr. Chew in the early fifties. It is stated that he never even owned a horse, and his contemporaries called him "web-footed." Dr. M. V. B. Newcomer, of Tipton, now the oldest living practicing physician m the county, and one of the oldest in the state, having entered the practice in 1864, recalls that he has worked afoot, on horseback, in a cart, a buggy, and in an automobile. He also claims to be one of the few, if not the only doctor, who has administered to a childbirth in his automobile.

Roads were frequently lost by the lone doctor on his nightly journeys to some obscure cabin. Often it was not until daylight that he was enabled to return home. Green briers cut him as he waded through the woods, lead¬ ing his horse, and streams were often mistaken in the darkness for paths or roads.

Medical Associations

The first medical society organized in Tipton county was established at the county seat in 1864 by the following doctors: M. V. B. Newcomer, C. N. Blount, J. J. Mathers, M. M. Bundy; J. M. GoSsett, Reuben Harvey, Isaac Parker, J. C. Driver, T. K. Sanders, J. K. Baxter, James Lindsay and A. M. Vickrey. The society prospered for nearly a year; meetings were held regu¬ larly and manuscripts on medical topics were read and discussed; also very interesting clinics were held for the edification of the society. This organiza¬ tion, however, soon ceased to exist.

In 1874 the Tipton County Medical Society was organized with the fol¬ lowing membership : M. V. B. Newcomer, A. B. Pitzer, G. W. Collins, S. M. Connor, J. M. Grove, A. J. Barker, W. A. Heath, J. S. Mavity, J. C. Driver, W. N. Glass, J. Parker, J. N. Schell, N. W. Doan, A. F. White, and M. V. B. Vickrey. The object of the society was "the advancement of medical knowl¬ edge, the elevation of professional character, the protection of the interests of its members, the expression of the bounds of medical science and the pro¬ motion of all measures adapted to the relief of the suffering and to improve the health and protect the lives of the community." The members were re¬ quired to qualify by the following: "Any graduate in medicine of a respect¬ able medical school or licentiate of any regularly organized medical society in good moral and professional standing." The society became auxiliary to the State Medical Society. This organization continued actively for several years, following a course of meetings and discussions which were beneficial to it, individually and collectively. Late in the seventies the society became divided in opinion on several important professional questions, and in April, 1881, partially broke up, and a new society was organized, with the following first membership : Winser Austin, A. J. Barker, J. C. Driver, J. W. Crismond, J. A. Bouse, A. E. Rhodes, D. P. Riibush, M. V. B. Newcomer, A. S. Dickey, Cj. R. Repp, A. P. Parker, D. R. Campbell, J. P. Jessup, J. D. Armfield, H. G. Evans and M. S. Johnson. This organization was independent of the State Medical Society.

The Medical Society of Tipton County is at present composed of six¬ teen members, namely: Drs. H. E. Grishaw, of Tipton; H. G. Read, of Tipton; E. I. Hinkle, of Goldsmith; S. M. Cotton, of Goldsmith; M. V. B. New¬ comer, of Tipton; W. C. Fumev, of Sharpsville; A. W. Gifford, of Tipton; W. F. and G. C. Dunham, of Kempton; A. S. Dickey, of Tipton; W. E. McKee, of Tipton; E. B. Moser, of Windfall; A. E. Burkhardt, of Tipton; T. W. Longfellow, of Windfall; H. S. Gifford, of Sharpsville; B. B. Thorpe, of Curtisville. The officers elected for the year 1914 are: S. M. Cotton, president; A. W. Gifford, vice-president, and W. F. Dunham, secretary and treasurer. They are preparing to petition the county coriimissioners for a hospital. This society is now in the state organization.

Non-Association Doctors

The present doctors in the county who are not members of the medical society are: Bert V. Chance, of Windfall; Clifford W. Conkling, of Windfall; John Cooper, of Kempton; Samuel G. Downing, of Hobbs; James Harvey Ferguson, of Kempton; Jefferson R. Hildrup, of Windfall; Willis B. Huron, of Tipton; John T. Jessup, of Curtisville; James P. Moser, of Windfall: M. T. Ploughe, of Kempton; Jefferson Pugh, of Kempton; Linley Murray Rea¬ gan. of Tipton; Robert M. Recobs, of Tipton; James Treloer Tressider, of Tipton, also Sarah Emily Tressider, and T. O. Morris, of Hobbs.

Doctors Of The Past

Other doctors enrolled in the books of the Tipton county medical prac¬ tice, most of whom are deceased and who are not now in active practice, are: A. B. Pitzer, Sharpsville; G. M. Collins, Tipton; S. M. Comer, Curtis¬ ville; J. M. Grove, Tipton; A. J. Barker, Tipton; William N. Heath, Sharps- ville ; James S. Mavity, Tipton; J. C. Driver, Atlanta; W. M. Glass, Shielville; IsaacH'arker, Tipton; N. W. Doan, New Lancaster; I. N. Schell, New Lancaster; A. F. White, Tetersburg; M .V. B. Vickrey, Tipton; A. M. Vickrey, Tipton; A. B. Seward, Ekin; D. I. Zook, Tetersburg; F. S. Zook, Windfall; Winsor Austin, Windfall; W. K. Armstrong, Windfall; M. M. Bundy, Kempton; H. G. Evans, Tipton; L. McAlister, Windfall; D. P. Rubush, Sharpsville ; James P. Lindsay, Sharpsville; D. F. Lindsay, Sharpsville; J. M. Gossett, Normanda; J. L. Jessup, Curtisville; J. L. Spitsmesser, Windfall; A. P. Parker, Kempton; J. A. Bouse, Goldsmith; C. A. Harbaugh, Atlanta; D. R. Campbell, Normanda; J. M. Crismond, Tipton; T. C. Welchell, Goldsmith; J. A. Summers, Groomsville: T. O. Armfield; L. B. Ward, Kempton; C. S. Goar; G. R. Repp; H. M. Mehlig, M. L. Ploughe, F. M. Batman and C. N. Blount, Tipton. It is the presumption that the above lists comprise the names of all doctors who have practiced medicine in the county of Tipton.

The first practicing physician in Windfall was Dr. Zimmerman, a man of strong ability, who commenced practice soon after the town was laid out and continued for several years. Dr. S. T. Murray was also an early phy¬ sician, and perhaps the next to Zimmerman. Afterward, came Perry Shocknev, Winser Austin and Farlow Zeek. In 1880 the medical profession was represented in Windfall by the following: L. McAlister, T. S. Zeek, W. L. Price, W. Austin, J. L. Spitzmesser, J. A. Horine, Dr. Hermann, George Wood and Dr. Price.

The first doctor in the town of Sharpsville was Reuben Jackson, who came from some point in Boone county in 1849 and left in 1853, going to Missouri. Dr. James P. Lindsay, the father of medicine in Sharpsville, came from Decatur county in 1850, and engaged in active practice during his entire life at that town.. Doctor Chew came from Clinton county in 1852 and remained until 1854, when he removed to the west part of Howard countv. Doctor Cross came from Madison, Indiana, in 1855, and left in 1857, returning to Madison. Doctor Cummings came from New Marion. Ripley county, in 1856, and went to Jennings county the next year. Doctor New came from Vernon in 1856, and the next year went to the state of Ken¬ tucky. Dr. J. K. Baxter came from Jefferson county in 1855, continued in practice until 1871, when he moved to his farm in the country. Doctor Basey came from New London, Howard county, in 1854, and went to Spiceland, Henry county, in 1856. Doctor Grooms arrived about the year 1857, was elected to the office of county auditor in 1862, and later died in Tipton. Dr. I. W. Stratford came in 1865, and left in 1869, going to Indianapolis. Dr. W. N. Heath came from Jefferson county in 1868, and practiced for many years. Dr. A. B. Pitzer came here from Prairie township in 1868, was elected county clerk in 1878, and later practiced medicine in Tipton. Doctor Houser came in 1875, but left the following year. Dr. W. L. Price came from Carroll county in 1878, left in 1879, going to Windfall. Dr. A. I. Wilson came from Prairie township in 1879, and went to the state of Kansas in 1881. Dr. D. P. Rubush came from Jefferson township in 1879.

The summer and fall of 1855 are memorable to the old settlers of Tipton county, for it was a period of intermittent fever and congestive chills. On one day Doctor Lindsay visited every family in Sharpsville except Will¬ iam Heaton. The groans of the sufferers were heard everywhere. The fol¬ lowing year saw a repetition of the malady, although in less severe form.

Among the earlier physicians of Kempton were Mrs. A. P. Parker, J. W. Stevenson, L. B. Ward, Summers, Green, Williams, Sturdevant and Ballinger. In Goldsmith some of those who have practiced medicine have been: M. M. Bundy, White, J. A. Bouse, T. C. Welchel and Doctor Repp.

At New Lancaster have been : Drs. R. R. Douglas, Granville Newby, Reuben Harvey, W. M. Sharpe, J. D. Armfield, T. O. Armfield, William Judd, Davis and T. F. Cook and Dr. N. W. Doane.

Dr. Silas Blount moved from Ohio in 1841 and located in Cicero town¬ ship just north of the Hamilton county line. Doctor Blount was one of the first physicians to practice in Tipton county and the territory now composing it. He was also one of the first associate judges. For forty years he gave his services to the people and asking in return only nominal compensation.